Reel type mowing machine



Sept. 11, 1"@5'3` 'A c. D. coURsoN ET AL 2,650,463

REEL TYPE MOWING MACHINE Filed Jan.v 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l J fs /Nl/ENmRs CLARENCE D. @OURSON WARREN ,0. couRso/v fakf ATTORNEY Sept- 1 1953 c. D. coURsoN ET AL 2,650,463

REEL TYPE MOWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY/avHM ATTO/@NE Y Patented Sept. 1, 1953 REEL TYPE MOWING MACHINE Clarence D. Courson and Warren C. Courson, Worthington, Minn.

Application January 18, 1950, Serial No. 139,286

2 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of our pending application Serial No. 65,838, for a Machine for Mowing Tall Grass, led December 17, 1948, now abandoned.

The invention herein presents a machine for cutting grass, weeds, etc.

The object is to provide a mowing machine incorporating features and characteristics adapted to render the machine an improvement over machines for the same purpose heretofore known, especially in the accomplishment of the cutting of tali grass or weeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part` of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mowingr machine incorporating features and characterlstics of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view disclosing the mowing machine as it would appear from the left in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partially `broken away, of said mowing machine.

With respect to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, a metallic frame of the machine consists of a horizontal upper wall I and vertical, spaced, parallel side walls, denoted II and I2, respectively, extending downwardly from and integral or rigid with opposite side edges of said upper wall I0.

The frame of the machine is supported at the front thereof on wheels I3, I3 disposed exteriorly of the side walls I I and I2, and at the rear thereof on an idler roller I4 disposed transversely of said frame between rearward portions of said side walls.

Each wheel I3 is rigid with a horizontal stub shaft I5 rotatably mounted on a frame side wall,

II or I2, as the casemay be, in perpendicular relation thereto.

The supporting roller |4.is mounted upon a horizontal, transverse spindle I6 opposite ends of which are supported in lower portions of spaced brackets Il, I1 each secured, as at I8, for vertical adjustment upon one of the frame side walls. The construction and arrangement are such that the spaced brackets I1 selectively can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly upon said frame side walls thus to cause the rollers I4 to support the rearward portion of the machine frame at higher or lower elevation.

A reel for supporting rotary blades or knives of the mowing machine includes a horizontal, transverse driven shaft I9 having its opposite ends rotatably mounted in portions of the frame side walls I I downwardly of the stub shafts I5, I5.

A prime mover 20, which is an internal combustion engine as disclosed, is suitably and conveniently supported upon the upper wall I0 of' the machine frame and, includes. a driven shaft with fixed pulley 2 I.

and I2 disposed forwardly andA `The frame side walls II and I2 suitably and conveniently rotatably support an intermediate horizontal, transverse shaft 22 disposed between said side walls, and extensions 23, 23 of said intermediate shaft are disposed eXteriorly of said frame side walls. The intermediate shaft 22 is situated at elevation above the wheel axles and the supporting roller Id and below the pulley 2|, rearwardly of the wheels and said pulley 2| and forwardly of said supporting roller.

A pulley 24 fixed upon the intermediate `shaft 22 between the frame side walls II and I2 is longitudinally alined with the pulley 2|, and a Ybelt 25 rides said pulleys 2| and 24. A sprocket 26 xed upon said intermediate shaft 221 between the pulley 24 and the frame side wall I2 is longitudinally alined with a sprocket 21 xed upon an end portion of the driven shaft I9 adjacent said side wall I2, and a sprocket chain. 28 rides said sprockets 26 and 21. The belt 25 is tensioned upon the pulleys 2| and 24 so that said shaft I9 will be rotated in response to rotation of the pulley 2|, through the instrumentality of said belt, said pulley 24, the intermediate shaft 22, said sprocket 26, said sprocket chain 28 and said sprocket 2l. i

Each extension 23 of said intermediate shaft 22 ilxedly carries a pulley 29 longitudinally alined with `a pulley 30 fixed upon the stub shaft |5 at the corresponding side of the machine frame, and a belt 3| rides the pulleys 29, 30 at each side of said frame. i

The mowing machine can be propelled either in response to actuation of the prime mover, or manually.

A propulsion and guide handle, at the rear of the machine, is constituted as a U-member, including spaced, parallel arms 32, 32 pivotally supported, as at 33, upon and between the frameY side walls for swinging movement of the propulsion and guide handle in a vertical plane and a base 34 connecting said arms, an extension piece 35rigid with said base, and a transverse hand piece 36 rigid with said extension piece. An intermediate portion of one of said arms 32 is disposed between spaced stops 31, 3l, rigid with the internal surface of the frame side wall II,

l for limiting pivotal movement of the propulsion and guide handle.

The construction and arrangement will be such that the belts 3l normally loosely ride the pulleys 29 and 30, so that the mowing machine will not be propelled in response to actuation of the prime mover or internal combustion engine 20 when this is intentional, and mechanism is included for manually tensioning said belts 3| on said pulleys 29 and 30 when it is desired that the mowing machine be power propelled.

` A horizontal, transverse actuator shaft 38, disposed between the frame side walls I I and I2 and rotatably mounted therein at elevation below the` pulley 2| and above the intermediate shaft 22, rearwardly of said pulley 2| and forwardly of said intermediate shaft, fixedly supports an actuator 39 disposed interiorly of and in adjacent relation to the frame side wall I2, and also iixedlyf supports belt tensioning arms 4El,.40 disposed..n

exteriorly of the frame side walls I and I 2.' Each of the tensioning arms 4! supports a roller 4| in vertical alinement with an upper length of the belt 3| between the pulleys 2% and 30 at the cor,k

VasA at 46,- to an upper portion of the `actuator!)v above the actuator shaft3 and at the rear of ,the`

tension coil spring42, extends first rearwardly and downwardly ,beneath a sheave 41 mounted,

upon one of the pivotal supports 33 for an arm 32 lof the propulsion and guide handle, thence. rearwardly and upwardly through an opening 48 in and over a sheave supported by an end portion of the base 34 of said propulsion and. guide handle, thence interiorly over a sheave 49 adjacent an intermediate portion of said base 34, and thence rearwardly and upwardly parallelly of the extension piece 35 to a location adjacent the transverse handrpiece 36 where said cable is connected, as at 50, to the interior end of an actuator lever |.having itsexteriorend pivotally secured, as at 53,' to4 saidtransverse hand. piece.

When the actuator lever 5| is in released posi,

tion, as disclosed inthe drawingsthe.cable,45 will be slack thus to permit the tension coil spring. 42`to retain the rollers 4I, 4| in retracted relation with'respect to the belts 3| and said belts to loosely ride the pulleys 29 and 30, so that the4 mowing machine will not bepropelled in re sponse to rotational movement of the pulley 2|. Said mowingr machine can, however, be manually propelled, either forwardly or rearwardly, while the belts 3| are not tensioned'through the instrumentality of the propulsion and guide handle. The cable 45 is adapted to be pulled or lslid rearwardly inresponse to manual swinging movement of the actuator lever 5| from its position as in the drawings toward the transverse hand piece 36,

and the construction and arrangement will be such that the rollers 4I, 4| will be moved to en gaged relation with said belts 3|, 3|, against `resilient action of the tension coil spring 42', -to cause these belts to be tensioned, in response to but slight rearward swinging movement Aof said actuator shaft 5|. The lmowing machine will be power propelled when the vcable 45 is operative to cause the belts 3|, 3| tobe tensioned, and immediately upon release of the actuator lever 5|, said tension coil spring 42- will remove the rollers 4I, 4| from said belts,rback to their'normal, retracted positions.v Drive of the wheels I3, I3 inresponse to actuation of the pulley 2| of course will be accomplished, when `the belts 3|, 3| are tensioned,"through the instrumentality of the belt 25, the pulley 24, the intermediate shaft 22, 'the pulleys 29, 29,V said belts 3|, 3| and the pulleys 30,30 lon the stub shafts I5, I5;

The horizontal, transverse driven shaft vI9 of the reel'of the `mowing machine rigidly supports spaced radial arms 53 of said reel which in turn rigidlyl support blade carrying bars or rods '54,`

secured' tothe outer ends 'of theradial arms 53,

extending longitudinally of thercel and transversely of the machine frame. In the disclosure as made, there are two blade carrying bars or rods 54 disposed at diametrically opposite sides of VtheV driven shaft I9 in parallel, equidistantly spaced relation thereto. That is, the blade carrying bars or rods 54 are spaced at 180 degrees apart, The blade carrying bars or rods 54 are of lengthito extend substantially across the width of the machine frame. As shown, the opposite ends of said blade carrying bars or rods terminate in slightlyspaced .relation tothe frame. side walls Il and I2.

Eachfof. the bars or rods V54,11Xedly supports a bank 55 of spaced, elongated blades or knives 56 which are strung out along the` lengthsof said bars or rods. Herein, for convenience, we term the bank of spaced bladesv or knivesupon onelof the bars or, rods a rstbank of blades and the bank of spaced blades or knives upon the other of said bars or rods a second bank of blades. The blades of each4 ofsaid first and second banks are secured to the surface of the corresponding `bar or rod 54 which is directly opposite the driven shaft I9, to extend-away from both said driven shaft and the lbar or rod Vby which supported. The-rotary cutting blades v56 are disposed generally longitudinally of the bars g or rods` 54, but, at thesame'time, each rotary cutting blade is disposedin oblique relation -to its corresponding bar` or-rodY 5,4. That is,- an intermediate portion 5'Ir of each -rotary cutting blade is secured Vto thev externalsurface ofthe bar or rod by which supported, a leadingrend portion 58, at the right in Fig. V3, of each rotary cutting blade projects forwardly, yand a followingend Aportion-59, Vat the left in said- Fig.- 3,

of each rotary cutting bladeprojects rearwardly.`

The outer end of the leadingend portion 58- of an outermost cutting blade,,at the right` in Fig. 3, of each bank terminates flush with the ad` shaft I9, and hence of the reel of which said.

upon the frame `side wallsfII and I2- forvertical, adjustment, toward and away from the rotary` cutting blades 56,in, order that there ycan be compensation for wear, as well as for removalof metal occasioned by sharpening. As disclosed,

the frame side wallspivotally support, as at 63,

brackets |4.whichl in turn support a transverse bar 65 with which the stationary` cutting `blade 60 is rigid.A Headedl and nutted bolts 66 in the frame Aside walls I| and I2 andrin Vvertical slots 61V in thefbrackets 64 are adaptedto be loosened when saidl brackets areto be rotatably adjusted,

about the pivotal supports 53 `and tightened when the brackets, and hence the transverse bar 65 and the stationary cutting blade 60, are to be set `at fixed relation to the machine frame. It is evident that vertical adjustment of the cutting edge 6l can be accomplished in response to rotational adjustment of the brackets 64.

An arrangement found satisfactory in operation of the mowing machine includes rotary cutting blades, such as 56, disposed at a 30 degree angle, more or less, to the longitudinal axis of the reel. All of the rotary cutting blades of both banks are set to cut in the same direction. As shown, the rotary cutting blades of each bank are parallel, but this need not be so. In an instance where spiral blade carrying bars or rods, such as 54, are employed, suiiicient banks of blades or knives 56 could be provided so that at least one blade or knife 56 would be in contact with the stationary cutting blade 60 at all times.

The cutting edges 62 of all the rotary cutting blades 56 are disposed at margins of said rotary cutting blades which are opposite the supporting bar or rod, each of said cutting edges 62 is arcuately curved outwardly longitudinally of the corresponding rotary cutting blade in order to engage the cutting edge 6| of the stationary cutting blade 60 with shearing action in response to rotation of the driven shaft I9, and each rotary cutting blade 56 is shaped in the direction of its length to render the cutting edge of the blade most efficient in the accomplishment of its shearing operation along the whole of the length of said cutting edge. It will be apparent from Fig. 4 of the drawings that the rotary cutting blades there shown are not straight. Instead, each is twisted in such manner that all points along the whole of the length of the cutting edge thereof will engage the cutting edge 6l of the stationary cutting blade 60 with effective shearing action.

During practical operation of the mowing machine, the rotary cutting blades thereof, together with the reel as a unit, are rotated relatively rapidly, in response to actuation of the prime mover or internal combustion engine 20, while the `machine is advanced, when manually or power propelled, at comparatively slow speed.

The construction and arrangement will be such that the rotary cutting blades 56 upon encountering upper portions of tall stalks of grass or weeds during forward and downward movement of said rotary cutting blades will cause said upper portions to be slid longitudinally along the rotary cutting blades oif of the rearward ends of their following end portions 59, while portions of the tall stalks closer to the ground remain alined with the rotary cutting blades which upper portions of the tall stalks have cleared to become severed as said rotary cutting blades move downwardly and rearwardly toward and to the stationary cutting blade 60. That is, rotary cutting blades 56 cause upper portions of tall stalks which are encountered to be swung laterally of the machine until clear of any rotary cutting blade, and, at the same time, leave lower portions of the tall stalks standing and alined with the rotary cutting blade which upper portions have cleared to become severed in response to downward and rearward movement of said rotary cutting blade. All of the rotary cutting blades of the diiierent banks in cooperation with each other cause the whole of tall grass or weed areas traversed by the mowing machine to be evenly levelled off.

Mowing machines made according to the present invention are operative as efficient-1y on tall grass and Weeds as on shorter stuff.

What is claimed is:

1. A mowing machine comprising a. movable frame, a reel extending transversely of said frame and having rst and second ends thereof mounted in said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating said reel in a single direction, a blade carrying bar constituted as an integral part of said reel parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation thereof, a bank of cutting blades positioned tangentially of said reel and rigid with said bar, said cutting blades being arranged in spaced, overlapping relation with respect to each other and extending longitudinally of said reel, each blade having an intermediate portion, a leading end portion disposed in advance of said intermediate portion in direction of rotation of said reel and a following end portion extending rearwardly of said intermediate portion in said direction of rotation, each of said leading end portions lying between its corresponding intermediate portion and said first end of said reel and each of said following end portions lying between its corresponding intermediate portion and said second end of said reel, and means xedly mounted on said frame and coacting with said bank of blades for shearing grass as the machine is moved over the ground.

2. A mowing machine comprising a movable frame, a reel extending transversely of said frame and having first and second ends thereof mounted in said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for rotating said reel in single direction, rst and second blade carrying bars constituted as integral parts of said reel parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation thereof, first and second banks of cutting blades positioned tangentially of said reel and integral with said first and second blade carrying bars, respectively, said cutting blades of each bank being arranged in spaced, overlapping relation with respect to the other blades of that bank and extending longitudinally of said reel, each blade having an intermediate portion, a leading end portion disposed in advance of said intermediate portion in direction of rotation of said reel and a following end portion extending rearwardly of said intermediate portion in said direction of rotation, each of said leading end portions lying between its corresponding intermediate portion and said first end of said reel and each of said following end portions lying between its corresponding intermediate portion and said second end of said reel, said second bank of blades being spaced from said rst bank, and means fixedly supported on said frame and coacting with said first and second bank of blades for shearing grass as the machine is moved over the ground.

CLARENCE D. COURSON. WARREN C. COURSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,899,439 Gratiot Feb. 28, 1933 2,160,259 Cooper May 30, 1939 2,220,705 Burckes Nov. 5, 1940 2,453,819 Smith Nov. 16, 1948 2,495,372 Goldberg Jan. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,700 Great Britain 1893 

